Progressive Politics from Memphis

Rocky Top Update

via @thecounttseatThe picture on the right is probably one of the best illustrations I’ve seen that describes the issue. You want pretty green mountains, scenic vistas that attract thousands of visitors that will sleep in our hotels, eat in our restaurants and shop in our stores, or do you want Tennessee to look like some post-apocalyptic wasteland that would make Tim Burton shiver?

This morning at 10:30 the Tennessee House Conservation Subcommittee takes up HB0291/SB0577, a bill that would prohibit surface mining on mountains higher than 2000 ft. above sea level. The contact information for all the legislators on this committee can be found below. I also added in the Senate Committee members that will be hearing the bill on Wednesday. Shoot all of them a note or make a call to their office. Tell your legislators that Tennessee’s natural beauty is one of our greatest assets and we need to do everything we can to preserve it.

This isn’t going to happen on its own. If this bill is to become law, we’ve got to show our support. There are some pretty powerful people that have opposed this in the past. Not least among them, current Lt. Governor, Ron Ramsey. As Newschannel 5 reported last March, the Lt. Governor exerted some pressure on the former sponsor of the bill.

Clip is about 5 min long, with an ad at the beginning.

Don’t let him stop this one. Contact the legislators below and tell them you support the passage of HB0291/SB0577.